Video and photo gallery: Second man arrested after suspected acid attack on woman in Pakefield

A second man has been arrested after a woman in her 20s suffered “life changing” injuries when a corrosive liquid - believed to be acid - was sprayed in her face during an assault in the Pakefield area of Lowestoft.

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Pakefield assault

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Police at the scene of an attack in London Road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

Police at the scene of an attack on London road South, Pakefield.

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A 25-year-old man was arrested in Lowestoft this afternoon for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and has been taken to the Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

A 38-year-old man arrested yesterday (Thursday, August 14) on suspicion of grievous bodily harm remains in custody at the Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre.

A sports-type bottle, possibly a Lucozade bottle, was used in the attack – and police are reminding members of the public not to pick up any discarded bottles in the area of London Road South, The Avenue and Kirkley Cemetery but call police on 101.

Police were called to London Road South in Pakefield at 8.20am yesterday by the ambulance service with a report that a woman had received facial injuries after having a corrosive liquid squirted in her face from a bottle.

The woman, who is in her 20s, sustained serious burn injuries to her face, neck and chest and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Following searches of the area involving the police helicopter and officers on the ground, a 38-year-old man from Lowestoft was arrested at about 10.35am in the Mill Road area of the town on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Armed officers and police dog units maintained a high-profile presence outside the building where the man was detained and a forensics team also removed white plastic evidence bags and placed them in a van before leaving the scene at about 11.45am.

A second man was arrested this afternoon.

Police have been continuing with their enquiries and have been searching the area for the bottle which was used in the attack which, police fear, might still contain some of the corrosive liquid.

A witness described the bottle as being sports style and possibly a Lucozade bottle and people are being warned not pick up any discarded bottles of that description in the area where the assault took place.

Two bottles matching this description have been recovered by police and will be sent off for forensic testing.

The corrosive liquid has not been identified.

A police spokesman said: “At this stage, as it has not yet been ascertained whether either of these are the offending bottle, police are reminding members of the public not to pick up any discarded bottles matching this description but to call police on 101.”

Witnesses told of the “horrible” screams of the victim yesterday, who was calling desperately for help after the substance was thrown in her face at about 8.20am.

Emma Luscher, 22, who lives opposite where the attack took place, is currently on maternity leave with her 12 week old son.

She she was woken by a woman screaming early this morning. She said: “She was screaming, saying ‘someone help me, please get me some water’.

“She was screaming over and over again. I couldn’t get up because I was feeding my baby. I heard her go up the road and thought it was a drunk person at first because round here you sometimes get people like that.

“I could still hear her screaming. A few minutes later I heard an ambulance go past and realised it must be something. Then police came and cordoned it off.”

She added: “You don’t think of things like that happening here in the little town of Pakefield. It was quite scary with having a new born. It makes you feel you’re not safe. I just hope she’s alright.”

A 55-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I didn’t see what happened. All I heard was just horrible screams. I got up, looked through the curtain and just saw someone running down the road. It was horrific.”

A cordon, which was put in place around the area of the assault in London Road South near to its junction with The Avenue, has now been lifted.

The victim was taken in the first instance to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

■Anyone who has any information about this incident is asked to call Lowestoft CID on 101 quoting crime reference LO/14/4110 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.